With a notable 67 percent of Filipinos expressing concern over online misinformation, the country faces a serious credibility crisis in the digital sphere, according to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025. This growing alarm is prompting businesses to reevaluate their cybersecurity measures as disinformation evolves from a political issue into a significant business risk.
Subhalakshmi Ganapathy, chief IT security evangelist at ManageEngine, discussed the changing landscape of disinformation in an interview with The Manila Times. She highlighted a shift in cybercriminal tactics, moving from direct intrusions to credential-based attacks that manipulate users into revealing access willingly. Ganapathy noted that 57 percent of organizations report facing phishing attacks weekly or daily, often facilitated by AI, making such threats harder to detect.
In response to these challenges, companies are transitioning from a proactive security approach to a reactive one, emphasizing rapid breach detection and incident management. This includes adhering to strict timelines for incident reporting and containment, which are crucial for regulatory compliance and maintaining brand integrity. As cybercriminals exploit current events for manipulation, the implications for businesses can be severe, both operationally and reputationally.